Penne Pasta and Chicken Prima Vera

Large chunks of tender chicken breast, penne pasta, fresh vegetables, Parmesan cheese and creamy Alfredo sauce make this a dish that is sure to keep everyone happy. I like to bake or grill the chicken breast and then cut it up and add it to the pasta at the end. Doing this insures that your chicken will be nice and tender as opposed to cutting it up raw and cooking it in the pan.
I also like to stir-fry the vegetables in a wok and then complete the dish in the wok adding the sauce, pasta and chicken. As you can see in the picture below this recipe will fill the wok to the top so there will be plenty for guests or leftovers. You can easily feed 8-10 people with this, especially if you add a nice green salad and some garlic bread or Parmesan toast.

Start out with about 2 pounds of chicken breast, rinse it well with cold water, put it on a sheet pan and season both sides generously with fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder and a little sea salt if you like. Bake the chicken in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. The chicken should be firm to the touch and again if you're not sure that it's done cut a little slit in it and take a look, no pink, it's done. Once you get the chicken in the oven put on a pan of water for the pasta and follow the directions on the box. They are usually pretty accurate. Here's what we will need to complete the dish:

Chicken Breast, cook, cool and chunk                         2 pounds
Penne Pasta                                                                1 pound box
Olive Oil                                                                     1/4 cup
Fresh Carrots, peel, halve and cut on bias thin              2 medium
Red Bell Pepper, seed and cut in strips                        1 each
Yellow Onion, julienne                                                 1/2 medium
Fresh Broccoli, cut bite size buds                                1 bunch
Alfredo Sauce                                                             3-16 ounce jars
Parmesan Cheese                                                        1/2 cup
Black Pepper, fresh ground                                          to taste (plenty)
Garlic Powder                                                             1 Tbsp or to taste
Cajun Spice                                                                 to taste
Fresh Chives, chopped                                                1/4 cup

Okay, so the chicken is in the oven and we have the water on for the pasta. Start cutting the vegetables, I would cut them in the order listed as the broccoli will make the biggest mess and should be cut last. Reserve the vegetables until ready to cook. When the water comes to a boil start the pasta. Once it is going good heat up your wok and add the olive oil, toss in the vegetables and give them a stir. cook the veggies until they are hot but still crisp and add the Alfredo sauce, use about 1/4 cup of water in each jar of sauce and shake it up good to get all the sauce and add it also. You might be thinking, bottled sauce? What's up with that? Well if you want to make sauce I could definitely give you a good recipe or you could get one elsewhere online but to keep it simple and quick I have chosen to use a prepared sauce. I usually buy what ever cost the least and season it up to suit my needs. Maybe sometime this winter I can prepare an Alfredo from scratch and post it. It's really not difficult but does involve more time and preparation than opening a jar. Any way the sauce is in and the pasta is probably getting close. I would guess your chicken should be done by now and cooling a bit so you can chunk it up. Stir the sauce a bit and turn the heat down so it doesn't scorch. Add your seasonings, the Cajun spice is really something optional, I like to add some to give the dish a little zip, you can add a little or a lot it's up to you. When the pasta is done drain it and add to the sauce, add the chicken and bring it all up to heat so you have a good simmer. Add the Parmesan and fresh chives, mix well and serve. Again add a nice green salad and some good bread to this dish and you have a meal that all will enjoy!!!